Footnote:David Hamilton is a former member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) who decided to turn his back on violence while serving a 12-year prison sentence for crimes including armed robbery and membership of an illegal organisation.

Having converted to Christianity in jail, David spent more than a decade promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland before moving to preach the gospel in Manchester.

Maybe the last ten people who passed just before you were all offered leaflets and responded with varying degrees of negativity, maybe even abuse.

If you really are 'a seeker' then why didn't you ask them for more information? I'm sure that would have lifted their spirits.

Christians are not perfect specimens of humankind. They go through all the same emotions as you do. Next time you pass by, smile at them and ask for a leaflet. Every one of us needs encouragement at times.

Seeker (Guest)

26/08/2008 12:49

Sorry, I did not realise it was my poor attitude, I thought invites were normally given not asked for?

If the last ten people were abusive does that give them a right to ignore the next however many?

I am seeking, but i am finding local buddhists far more inviting.

I will try and remember that next I pass by it is up to me to encourage them...how very bizarre a world this is.

I am not blaming you in any way. I am merely pointing out that we are all human and it can be very daunting and discouraging to try and hand out literature to people who don't actually want it and who can respond with anything from ignoring it to verbal abuse.

Yes, it is up to them to take the initiative but, if you have ever been in a position such as this, then you will know just how hard it actually is.

Had I been interested in what was on offer, I wouldn't have walked by three times hoping to be offered anything - I would have gone over and asked, and that would be the same for any stall regardless of what was on offer. It just seems a strange way to act when you say you did have an interest in the subject.

Sometimes, no matter what people do, they just can't win and will be criticised regardless.

Seeker (Guest)

26/08/2008 21:51

If as you say the people don't actually want the literature then why give it to them. If it is so hard for them then why do it, why should it be so difficult - I do not understand

I was going to eastgate and then coming back the same way, i was not looking for a leaflet, i just wondered why they had not approached me, that is why i went past a few more times.

To be truthful I was put off anyway by this huge big ugly blue bus parked on the pavement

Well, you're not going to know for sure they don't want it unless you offer it. There are lots of things in life which are very difficult to do but thank God that there are those who are prepared to do them despite the trials as they know the value of what's on offer.

If you were already put off by the presence of the bus (which IMO is actually quite a fetching colour of blue :-) then I would assume you would be indifferent as to whether or not you were offered a leaflet.

Iain L (Guest)

27/08/2008 15:37

Hi Seeker,

Christians aren't perfect - nobody is. That's why Jesus had to come to take the penalty for our human condition.

But if ever there was a verse for a "Seeker", God has said:"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

You may find a lot wrong with Christians and the church, but you will find no flaw in Jesus the Son of God - whom you will find if you seek Him with all your heart. The next verse (14) says: '"And I will be found by you" declares the Lord'.

If you are genuinely seeking, look beyond the colour of the bus (smile).

Seeker (Guest)

28/08/2008 17:21

Thank you, what if i seek god with all my heart and find him outside of christianity.For instance, what if i find him in the world around me?And when i find him do i then have to change my friends and join christians and a church, or can i just carry on with my own people who are not christians?

Iain L (Guest)

28/08/2008 18:24

Hi Seeker,

People will find gods everywhere. G K Chesterton said: "If we stop believing in God (capitalised to mean the God of creation, the Bible and Father of Jesus Christ) then we don't believe in 'nothing' we believe in 'anything'." But God (or a least the evidence of Him) is in fact in the world around us. He made it after all. But He we are not to worship His creation (the world), rather we worship the one who made it.Have a read of Chapter 1 in the book of Romans and you can learn about all of that.

Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (book of John ch. 14 verse 6). So he doesn't leave us much choice: he is either a raving and delusional lunatic or - and this is the rub - He is exactly what He said He is i.e. the ONLY way to the true God.

You will find that if you become a Christian you will want to be with others who follow Jesus (just like football fans, music lovers, etc. gather for football matches and concerts). But you will need to meet with other Christians who will be a help and support to you. This doesn't necessarily mean going to a certain type of building at a certain time on a particular day.

If you become a Christian I would hope that you carry on meeting with your non-Christian friends. And you can then tell them - as the Bible asks us to - about your faith in Jesus (which any true disciple wants to do).

Keep on seeking. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will. And remember that ultimately He has revealed himself through His Son, Jesus.

kirstie (Guest)

30/08/2008 11:59

my husband and myself are both christians and although we try to live the way our lord would like us to it is very difficult but to new christians i say this there are no rules regulations that you have to follow apart from one love the lord accept him as your saviour and your heart will tell you what is right.We started out our new lifes with some wrong teaching of what a christian should be. we since learned that only our hearts and love for christ will tell us that

fin (Guest)

19/09/2008 23:35

If you would like to find out more about Christianity why not come to Christianity Explored starting on Mon 22nd Sept.at 6.30pm in Free North Church Hall